title: [Measurement of participation in outpatient neurorehabilitation--a pilot study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To date there is a lack of tools to measure participation and the already existing measures are not properly used as yet. In 2005 the IMET (Index zur Messung von Einschränkungen der Teilhabe) was developed and is able to measure the ICF associated construct participation as a generic instrument in chronic diseases. IMET and numerous instruments were applied in our own study and results were compared with results of an unpublished study. In addition, to test IMET for its use in neurorehabilitation the effects of outpatient neurorehabilitation were investigated and compared with results obtained in an inpatient setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a multicentric observational study, consecutively treated patients of 6 outpatient neurorehabilitation centres were asked to fill in a questionnaire at three time points (admission and discharge in the course of rehabilitation and at 4 months follow-up). Additionally, clinical experts were asked to rate the patients' status at admission and discharge. The data were compared with results of a sample of inpatients of an unpublished study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The IMET seems to be the to date best instrument to measure participation in a global, ICF-defined and economic way. Especially participation, general health status and capacity in leisure time and daily routine show the biggest improvements. In comparison, the outpatients show improvements in their participation status. Participation-oriented outpatient neurorehabilitation seems to have a considerable impact on participation status in neurological patients through the course of rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychologie, Neurologische Therapie RheinAhr, Bad Neuenahr - Ahrweiler.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pöppl
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Deck
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fries
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reuther
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005858:Germany; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012984:Software; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome